What are the schools like in Ralston, IA?

School district data for Ralston is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

What is the median household income in Ralston?

The median household income in Ralston, IA is $66,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 11.4%.

What is the weather like in Ralston, IA?

Ralston has an average high temperature of 27.9°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 33.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 31.7 inches.

Ralston, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ralston, IA affordable or expensive?

Ralston's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ralston is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $80,800 and the median rent is $725 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ralston, IA?

Ralston has a violent crime rate of 45.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 596.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ralston, IA a Good Place to Live?

Ralston is a small town of 71 in Iowa, with a median household income of $66,250 and a 11.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Ralston stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Ralston is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ralston city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 86.7

Ralston's overall cost of living index is 86.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ralston costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Ralston, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$80,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$725	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	74.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$66,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ralston's violent crime rate is 45.0 per 100,000 residents — 88% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

45.0 /100k

Property Crime

596.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Metric	Ralston, IA	National Avg
School District	N/A	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	N/A	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	0.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	100.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ralston sees average highs of 27.9°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 33.7 inches of annual precipitation and 31.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ralston, IA
Average High — January	27.9°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	33.7"
Annual Snowfall	31.7"

Demographics

Metric	Ralston, IA	National Avg
Population	71	—
Median Age	41.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	11.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.3 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.2%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.9%	22.2%
65 and over	21.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Scranton, IA 4 mi Glidden, IA 5 mi Lidderdale, IA 10 mi Lanesboro, IA 10 mi Willey, IA 11 mi

ZIP Codes in Ralston

Ralston, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51459

Ralston vs Other Cities

Ralston, IA vs Scranton, IA Ralston, IA vs Glidden, IA Ralston, IA vs Lidderdale, IA Ralston, IA vs Lanesboro, IA Ralston, IA vs Willey, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ralston, IA affordable or expensive?

Ralston's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Ralston roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $80,800 and median rent is $725/month.

What is the crime rate in Ralston, IA?

Ralston's violent crime rate is 45.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 596.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ralston?

School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.

Is Ralston, IA a good place to live?

Ralston, IA has a population of 71, a median household income of $66,250, and an unemployment rate of 11.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ralston?

Ralston averages 27.9°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 33.7 inches with about 31.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ralston?

Ralston, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51459.

What is the population of Ralston?

The population of Ralston, Iowa is 71 with a median age of 41.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ralston?

Key numbers for living in Ralston: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $80,800, median household income $66,250, crime index 18 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ralston side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.